In the early morning hours of July 8, 2007, Officer Robert Anthony Kozminski, 29, responded to a reported armed domestic disturbance on Emerald Avenue NE in Grand Rapids. Kozminski, a seven-year veteran of the department and father of a three-year-old daughter, moved to secure the rear of the residence around 1:40 a.m. Unknown to him, the suspect, Jeffrey VanVels, lay in wait inside the garage and fired a shotgun through the closed glass garage door, striking Kozminski in the head.

Fellow officers carried the wounded Kozminski to a patrol cruiser and rushed him to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, where he died of his injuries. VanVels was taken into custody at the scene and charged with first-degree murder. Kozminski was the youngest of seven siblings.

Anyone who knew Officer Kozminski, his patrol area that night, or has information about the incident is asked to come forward.